Burn Permit Form

Eligible Areas

Burn Permits are issued under specific restricted conditions, and in certain rural areas of Elk Grove and Galt for property maintenance. The annual permit allows the burning of grass, tree trimmings, brush, and weeds only. Please check our Burn Area Map Opens a New Window. to determine if you live in an area eligible for a burn permit.

Note: Once you have paid for your permit, refunds cannot be issued. Please verify that you are eligible for a burn permit prior to purchase.

Burn Permit Fee

The fee for a burn permit is $20.00. Burn permits are valid for a calendar year - from January 1 to December 31.

Burn Permit Approval

All permit requests will be verified prior to issuance. Once approved, you will receive your permit via email. Please allow 3 to 5 business days.

Agricultural Burning

Burn permits are not issued for agricultural burning. Large piles require a permit from the Sacramento County Agricultural Commission. Please contact them at 916-875-6603.

Burn Permit Conditions

A garden hose or two 2A-10BC fire extinguishers must be present.

Burn permit must be presented to Fire Department staff upon request.

Burning is to be done in a legal burn area as designated by Fire Department policy.

Burning must be located at least 100 feet from any structure with a wood shake roof on an adjacent property parcel.

Burning without a permit, or violating any of the terms of the permit, is a misdemeanor. The burn permit does not exonerate or release the permittee from any liability, civil or criminal, and permittee may be held financially liable for violating the terms of the permit.

Citizen complaints of nuisance smoke may be grounds for revoking the burn permit by the Sacramento Air Quality Management District.

Contact the Fire Department at 916-228-3035 prior to any burning.

Limited Area burning areas are from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., and only during the months of November, December, January, February, March, and April.

No burning shall be done on days when wind speed is in excess of 10 miles per hour.

Open Area burning hours are 10 a.m. - Noon during the months of May, June, July, August, September, and October, and 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. during the months of November, December, January, February, March, and April.

Permittee shall be in attendance at all times until fire is extinguished.

Piles can be no larger than 4 feet by 4 feet wide, and 4 feet tall. A total of no more than 4 piles.

Piles shall be arranged to facilitate efficient burning and shall be free of household trash, petroleum wastes, demolition debris, tires, tar, wood waste (painted or treated with preservatives), or other combustible or flammable solid or liquid waste. The burning of these materials is a violation of air pollution regulations and is subject to heavy penalties.

Piles shall be free of moisture.

The burn permit may be revoked or suspended for violation of any condition of said permit or when it is necessary for the protection of public health or safety.

There shall be no combustible material within 30 feet of the burn site. Piles shall be a minimum of 30 feet apart.